Pillar: Agency & Engagement
23.3% of women in Malda own land in their name, behind the typical district. 73.4% take part in all three major household decisions, close to the typical district. The District Legal Services Authority provides the free legal aid that backs these rights when they are contested.
75% of registered enterprises are in services while 25% are in manufacturing. Only 3% of employment is in small and medium enterprises. 74% of school-age children are enrolled in higher secondary school (classes 9–12). Only 16% of ITI trainers are certified.
In Malda, which ranks 19 of 23 in West Bengal for youth opportunity, the overall opportunity score is 41.8 out of 100. The district runs ahead of the national picture on women's freedom of movement at 63.2%, while it lags on women who own a house at 25.4% and households in the poorest wealth group at 36.5%.
Mandated services and how to locate the DLSA (Legal Aid) in Malda are in the Malda district course and the English reference guide (Hindi). See the Malda youth opportunity scorecard for the full district picture.